Chapter 66: The First Battle
On the official road, banners stood like a forest, and the procession stretched for tens of miles.
Under a banner that read “Cavalry Left Wing, Twentieth Command,” Xiao Yi rode his horse, sometimes his gaze falling on the numbers written in brush ink, feeling they were hardly imposing.
Anyone with sharp eyes could tell it was a newly formed unit.
Whenever veteran soldiers passed by, they couldn’t help but mock.
“Hey, look, here comes a nobody.”
“Haha, this banner… it’s drawn nicely.”
Nowadays, it was common for generals to establish designations far exceeding their actual troop numbers, either for show or to embezzle funds. However, the martial men in the army wouldn’t respect Xiao Yi’s banner just because he was a benefactor to the Guo family; they only revered the elite troops of the First to Fifth Commands.
Here, it was a matter of merit earned in battle.
The men of the Twentieth Command called themselves the “Nian Battalion” and vowed to make those who looked down on them with disdain see them in a new light.
They were part of the left wing, with He Fujin as the main general and Li Rong as the deputy general.
Although it was a forced march, they still had to consider the pace of the infantry. Xiao Yi rode his Wuzhui horse, and when he had some leisure, he would ask Fan Si for advice on mounted archery.
He was not ashamed to ask, and Fan Si was flattered, imparting his most treasured skills to him.
“Actually, Commander, your mounted archery skills are already quite sound. Your posture is beautiful, and your riding skill is truly remarkable. It’s just that your accuracy needs a little more practice.”
“To be honest.”
“Alright, to shoot accurately, you must first train the horse to be steady. You need to make the horse unafraid of the sound of arrows. So, often shoot arrows near it. If it can stay still, give it some salt.”
“Anything else?”
“Practice nocking. Keep your quiver on your right hip, with the fletching facing you. When drawing an arrow, don’t look; rely on feel to slot it onto the bowstring. Only when you can nock it smoothly with your eyes closed is it considered done.”
Xiao Yi tried it, but it wasn’t quite right; he couldn’t nock it accurately.
Fan Si said, “When drawing the bow, use your waist for power. While the horse is running, even the strongest arm cannot hold steady. Like this, twist your body slightly to the left, use your core muscles, like wringing a rope. The power should flow, following the horse’s momentum, not against it. Commander, your accuracy is lacking. I’ll teach you a family secret.”
He pointed to a tree fifty paces away and said, “Suppose you’re shooting at it. Don’t aim at the trunk. Aim about one hoof’s length in front of it. The horse runs, the arrow flies, so you have to leave room for the arrow to fly. This is called ‘look one step ahead, the arrow lands an inch.'”
Xiao Yi said nothing. He kicked the horse’s belly and increased its speed.
He nocked an arrow, aimed, and shot decisively.
“Whoosh!”
The arrow almost hit the tree trunk, but a strong gust of wind blew it sideways, and it landed on the ground at an angle.
“Heh heh, keep practicing, Commander.”
Fan Si quickly rode up and said, “It’s not that I’m flattering you, Commander, but your talent for mounted archery is truly exceptional. The most crucial thing is one word: ‘courage.’ On the battlefield, when the horse is running, the gongs and banners are shaking, and arrows are falling like rain all around, you still need to be calm and steady. This all relies on courage.”
Xiao Yi said, “I don’t have many other skills, but I am calm and steady.”
Suddenly, a low shout came from the rear.
“Watch your distance! What are you crowding for!”
Fan Si quickly pulled on the reins, making the horses increase their distance.
Xiao Yi looked back and saw Li Rong, the deputy general of the left wing, weaving through the ranks like a falcon and riding towards them.
He then cupped his fist and said, “General Li, I’ve just joined the army and am too undisciplined. I’ll be more mindful from now on.”
“So it’s Commander Xiao. You have good riding skills, so judge for yourself. I’m just afraid of those worthless soldiers’ horses getting spooked and bucking.”
Xiao Yi, curious, asked, “Your subordinate has heard that General Li, along with General He, once expelled the Khitan from Zhenzhou?”
“Ha, you even know about that?!”
Li Rong was very surprised, but his eyes lit up. Clearly, this was something he was most proud of in his life.
Xiao Yi said, “Your subordinate was adopted by Prime Minister Li Gongsong and later served the Grand Tutor. I saw General He’s resume in the study at the Shi Residence.”
“Li Song’s adopted son? Haha, he was also in Zhenzhou at the time, and he defected to Emperor Gaozu with us.”
“Is that so?” Xiao Yi asked with surprise, “It’s a pity I’ve only heard snippets and don’t know the specific circumstances at the time?”
“Listen to me tell you.”
Li Rong pulled on the reins, rode closer to Xiao Yi, and spoke at length.
“Just three or four years ago, when the Khitan withdrew from the Central Plains, General He and I, along with civil officials like Feng Dao and Li Song, were with the Khitan army. When we reached Luancheng, the Khitan ruler died, and we stayed in Zhenzhou. At night, General He told me we should rebel against the Khitan. So, we contacted forty brave men, agreed to use the Buddhist bell as a signal, and ambushed eight hundred Khitan soldiers, captured the arsenal, distributed weapons and armor to the common people, and repelled the Khitan. Not long after, the Khitan returned and massacred two thousand civilians. Feng Dao and Li Song then led several thousand villagers to make noise outside Zhenzhou City, feigning an attack on the Khitan’s supply trains and women and children, which scared the Khitan into retreating north.”
“So there was such a magnificent story,” Xiao Yi said, “General, your loyalty and bravery for the country are a model for us all.”
“It was a minor accomplishment, not worth mentioning.”
Li Rong said this, but there was a hint of pride in his demeanor.
This was a wild and untamed fierce warrior.
“General He!” Li Rong wheeled his horse around and rode towards where He Fujin was, shouting, “Xiao Yi is Li Song’s adopted son, one of our own…”
For the rest of the march, Xiao Yi often rode alongside He Fujin and Li Rong, chatting.
Xiao Yi observed carefully: the temperaments of these two main generals were vastly different. One was experienced and meticulous, the other arrogant and impulsive, but they were old acquaintances and quite complementary.
General He Fujin was over sixty and had an old shoulder injury, so he didn’t wear heavy Bright Light Armor. Instead, he wore light leather armor and no helmet, opting for a headwear. Beneath the headwear, his eyebrows were streaked with white, and his eyes were always half-closed, as if pondering military affairs, showing a weathered look, yet he still exuded the fierce aura of a warrior.
Li Rong was only forty, broad-shouldered and stout, as imposing as a bear, half a head taller than ordinary soldiers. He was rough and unrestrained, with a fierce face like an iron block blackened by smoke, covered in scars. He wore Bright Light Armor, with the breastplate full of dents, and a black pheasant feather stuck in his iron helmet. A string of teeth hung from his waist, jingling as he walked, a clear display of his battle achievements.
After two days of forced march, on the evening of November 13th, they approached Huazhou, a vital town on the north bank of the Yellow River, less than forty li from its administrative seat, Baima County.
This speed could not be called slow.
At this point, the army had covered two-thirds of the journey, with only a little over a hundred and eighty li to Kaifeng.
The Huazi River, like a gray-yellow sash, stretched across the army’s path.
It was a tributary of the Yellow River and the northern barrier of Huazhou City. Once the army crossed the river, it would be equivalent to knocking on Huazhou’s North Gate. Only after taking Huazhou could they cross the Yellow River at ease.
Guo Wei’s grand banner halted. An order was given to rest and await news from the scouts.
Xiao Yi happened to be with He Fujin. The two dismounted and went to the riverbank to survey the terrain.
Reaching the bank, they saw a thin layer of ice on the water surface about three feet from the shore, while the current in the center of the river was still swift.
The water surveying officer took a sounding pole and reported loudly, “General, it’s about twelve zhang deep. Cavalry cannot cross by swimming.”
“Hmm,” He Fujin grunted.
“This section of the river is about thirty zhang wide, with a five-zhang wide mudflat. The soil is sandy, which can accommodate soldiers forming ranks.”
“I know.”
He Fujin squatted down, grabbed a handful of sand and soil from the mudflat, and it formed a clump when he clenched his fist, but scattered when he released it.
He looked at Xiao Yi and said, “This is frozen sand. It thaws during the day, becoming soft on the surface, and freezes again at night, becoming hard. It’s perfect for pitching camp.”
Xiao Yi, however, asked, “General, if we send light cavalry straight to the city gates before they are closed, wouldn’t that save more time than setting up camp?”
He Fujin laughed, “What’s the rush? To attack the city, you need a bridge first.”
As they spoke, scouts on horseback flew in from a distance to report.
Li Rong, Guo Xin, and others, who had gathered at some point, intercepted the scout and got the news first. They hurried over.
“General,” Li Rong said, “downstream, about six or seven li, there’s a wooden temporary bridge. We are the closest. I request the General to immediately order us to seize the bridge.”
He Fujin glanced at the river again and made a decisive choice.
“Li Rong!”
“Here!”
“I order you to lead three hundred cavalry, speed downstream, seize the temporary bridge, establish a firm foothold, and await my infantry!”
“Understood!”
Li Rong immediately ordered his cavalry to assemble.
He Fujin then said, “Left Commander Guo Xin, you will immediately report to the Marshal…”
“I’m not going to be a messenger. I want to fight alongside General Li. Giddy up!”
Guo Xin finished speaking and directly spurred his horse to follow Li Rong.
He Fujin frowned, helpless, and told Xiao Yi to lead his men to follow, protect them, and warn Guo Xin not to advance recklessly.
He himself sent another messenger to report to Guo Wei.
Soon, the three hundred cavalry were assembled.
The Nian Battalion was among them.
Commander Chen Guang Sui was in the center, and Xiao Yi, as the deputy commander, was on the left.
Guo Xin, Zhang Mantun, Hua Nong, Lu You, Fan Si, Wei Liang, Old Pan, Xi Hou, Hu Deng, Wu Gouzi, and others all unconsciously gravitated towards Xiao Yi.
They were only six or seven li away, so they didn’t bring spare horses, but they did bring fifty archers and twenty crossbows.
Xiao Yi also requested a bow. Fan Si picked out a Yellow Birch short bow for him, only three feet two inches long, so as not to interfere with the horse.
This was a twenty-jin bow, referring to the force required to draw it. The bow itself weighed about four jin, considered the most common configuration of the time, capable of inflicting damage on lightly armored enemies.
For him, this bow was very light, ensuring stability when he was first learning mounted archery, and its destructive power was sufficient for now.
“Depart!”
The horses galloped, heading straight downstream.
The setting sun cast long shadows. The horses’ hooves striking the riverbank produced the crisp sound of frozen earth cracking.
After galloping for about fifteen minutes, several scouts flew back with reports.
“Report! Three li ahead, at the temporary bridge, Huazhou infantry, about a thousand strong, are dismantling the bridge!”
“Damn it!”
Li Rong first cursed angrily, then broke into a loud laugh.
“Sons, follow me to seize the bridge, earn merits by beheading enemies, five guan per rank!”
“Yes!”
“Immediately divide into three groups. Team A, I will personally lead the elite as a wedge formation to break the enemy’s lines; Team B, Chen Guang Sui, you will lead the skilled fighters to kill the enemy and expand our gains; Team C, skirmish and maintain vigilance.”
The cavalry, conversely, slowed down, letting the horses rest slightly, holding the reins in one hand and picking up a saber or short spear in the other.
The Nian Battalion was thus divided in two. Chen Guang Sui led a portion of the men forward; Xiao Yi, along with Fan Si and Wei Liang, engaged in skirmishing, Hua Nong held the banner to relay orders, and Old Pan supervised the team.
The fifty archers raised their horn bows, and the twenty crossbowmen also raised their crossbows.
Xiao Yi slowed his horse’s speed, but his peripheral vision caught sight of someone overtaking him by half a horse’s length from behind. It was Guo Xin.
“Guo Xin, slow down! The infantry will definitely bring abatis to dismantle the bridge. Charging straight ahead will inevitably lead to casualties. Wait for the archers to suppress them before you charge.”
“Oh.”
Guo Xin never listened to anyone else, but he was willing to listen to Xiao Yi. He reined in his horse and stayed obediently behind and to his side.
As expected.
Further ahead, on the riverbank next to the bridge, a line of abatis, bound with wooden poles, stood. The enemy archers were lying behind the abatis, occasionally looking up.
On the bridge, Huazhou guards were chopping away.
“Archers! Fire arrows within a hundred paces, target the enemy archers behind the abatis!”
Li Rong also saw the abatis and raised his hand, signaling the cavalry to slow down slightly.
“Everyone else, adjust your formation. After the arrows suppress them, charge with me!”
Xiao Yi’s left hand hooked the reins, holding his bow, while his eyes looked straight ahead. He relied solely on the feel of his right hand to nock an arrow, its tail firmly seated on the string.
However, Li Rong did not give the order to fire.
The enemy’s first volley of arrows arced towards them.
“Clang.”
Xiao Yi lowered his head slightly. An arrow weakly landed on his shoulder armor, causing no damage.
The horses continued to charge forward, eighty paces, seventy paces…
“Fire!”
Li Rong finally shouted.
Xiao Yi stared at an enemy soldier who had left a half-step gap and decisively released the string.
“Whoosh.”
The man screamed and fell, collapsing two abatis beside him.
The feel was smooth.
Xiao Yi made no superfluous movements. He directly nocked the next arrow, simultaneously aiming at another enemy soldier’s eye.
“Whoosh.”
The opponent fell in response, a burst of blood erupting from his face.
By then, Xiao Yi had charged very close; the two sides were about to engage in close combat.
